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Woodson Weekly is published every Monday to provide the community with important information about school life at Woodson High School.
Vision Statement
Carter G. Woodson High School is a community that embraces diversity in a culture of improvement and success that promotes academic curiosity and individual mental and physical growth.
Message from Mr. Greata
Dear Community,
One of the biggest updates this school year is our transition to a Rolling Gradebook. Unlike a traditional gradebook—where quarter grades are calculated individually and then averaged together—a rolling gradebook keeps a cumulative, running total throughout the entire year. As with any major shift, we want to ensure our community is fully informed, understands what this means for our students, and knows that our lines of communication remain open.
This summer, a committee of teachers and administrators met to review the upcoming requirements. Their focus was determining how to best support our educators, students, and families through this implementation. To ensure consistency across all subjects and grade levels, we created a common syllabus that applies to all classes, which will be posted on our website. We hope this added consistency reduces confusion and brings even greater transparency to our grading process.
Important Considerations
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Grade Weighting: Grades will still be weighted as 70% summative (e.g., tests, major projects) and 30% formative (e.g., classwork, homework).
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Assessment Count: For most courses, there are typically two summative assignments per quarter, each carrying significant weight. This assignment count can vary, and is very subject dependent.
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Reassessments: In line with county policy, students still have the opportunity to reassess. Students have two weeks from the date a graded assessment is returned to complete the reassessment process. This rule helps keep students on track and prevents them from falling behind.
One topic that frequently came up during our summer conversations is how grades look over time. In a rolling gradebook, as more assignments are entered throughout the year, each individual new assignment has a smaller percentage impact on the overall cumulative grade. While this can sometimes make a grade seem "stuck," it is simply the nature of a running total—a dynamic that exists in traditional gradebooks as well, just broken up by quarters.
I also wanted to share that the school board has approved a new policy prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the instructional day. Students will not be able to bring their own device (BYOD). Limited exceptions will apply for approved IEP/504 accommodations.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we roll out these changes. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
Short on time?
Check out our 3-5 minute Weekly Wrap-up podcast on Spotify or Apple!
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Cavalier Come Back Kit
Time flies! Summer is wrapping up, and we are getting ready for the first day of school! The Cavalier Come Back Kit for the new year is being updated as we type. Keeping checking back over the next few weeks.
Important Dates for 2026-2027
FCPS 2026-2027 School year calendar
Thursday, August 20 - 4-7pm - Freshman and New Student Orientation
- 4:00pm-5:00pm - Freshman/New Student Orientation
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5:00pm-6:00pm
- Building tour for new students
- Freshman Orientation
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6:00pm-7:00pm
- Freshman can walk the building
- Freshmen parent presentation
Friday, August 21 - Cav Kick-Off - 8:30am-10:30am
- Whole school open house for students and parents in all grades to walk the building, find classroom and meet their teachers.
Monday, August 24 - First Day of School
Thursday, September 17 - Back-to-School Night 6pm-9pm
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New Cellphone Policy Starts July 1
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Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime.
Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smart watch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.
This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
New ParentVUE Mobile App Launching July 28
On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app will become available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. Although enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.
Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. If you need assistance, submit a Parent Support Request.
Student Services
Request PSAT and SAT School Day Testing Accommodations and Multilingual Support
FCPS high schools will give the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) to 10th and 11th graders on Wednesday, October 7. That same day, 12th graders will participate in SAT School Day.
Because these exams are operated by the College Board, students do not automatically receive testing accommodations or multilingual support. Families can view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about College Board accommodations on the FCPS website.
If you have a student with disabilities in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade this school year, please review the accommodations request process and return forms to the high school by Monday, August 3.
If you have a multilingual learner (ML) entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade this school year, please review the ML support request process and return forms by Thursday, August 27, if you wish to request ML support for the October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day.
Find out more about SAT and PSAT assessments in FCPS.
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Back-to-School Immunization Requirements
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Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:
Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date and ready for the first day of school!
Required Immunizations for Rising 12th Graders
Several immunizations are required for students entering 12th grade.
- All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school.
- To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.
As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.
Where to Receive Immunizations
If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events.
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster.
Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.
Other local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD
If your children qualify for Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM), they may also be eligible for:
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